I am Jewish
A Temple Beth-El Initiative
An Understanding
of Identity
What does “I am Jewish” mean to you? Close your eyes
and try to imagine how those words make you feel. Three
simple words, yet their interpretation is infinite.
It means for the Jew in
me to seek fulfillment
both as Jew and as a
human being. For a Jew,
Judaism and humanity
must go together. To be
Jewish is to recognize
To some of us, these words refer to how we define
ourselves in the most basic sense. To others, it is our
heritage – the traditions of our people and our culture.
For some people, “I am Jewish” is about religious faith.
For others it represents charity and humanity. Yet to still
others it refers to our relationship with the world, our
responsibilities as a people to the lives around us.
that every person is
created in G-d’s image
and thus worthy of
respect. Being Jewish to
me is to reject fanaticism
everywhere.
– Elie Wiesel, Author
On a more personal level, “I am Jewish” might conjure
up an intimate image of family gathering together for
Shabbat dinner or wrapping a brand new hand-woven
tallit around a proud Bar or Bat Mitzvah. It might be the
Israeli Flag waving proudly in the sky or the history of a
people surviving and growing stronger through eons of
hardships. It might refer to the love we feel, the duties we
serve or the aims for which we strive. It could refer to all
of these things, or none of these things, for each of us.
Over the course of the year all of us at Temple
Beth-El will join together to determine what “I am
Jewish” means. Through our schools, our prayers and our
programs we will unite to awaken, revive, connect and be
counted … together.
Awaken, Revive,
Connect, Be Counted
The declaration “I am Jewish” isn’t defined in a prayer book
or a sermon; it’s a deeply personal question that is formed
by our experiences, our teachings, even our upbringings. To
discover what “I am Jewish” means to you takes introspection.
It takes courage. It takes the desire to learn about yourself.
AWAKEN
How many of us go day by day without
thinking about who we are and what we believe in? How
many of us go to temple because of rote, rather than as a
source of fulfillment? By exploring “I am Jewish” we will
awaken our Jewish soul. We will gain a better understanding
of who we are, and a new appreciation for our beliefs.
REVIVE
Defining our Jewish identities will reward
us with a new sense of belonging and fulfillment. For those of
us who are regularly in touch with this fountain of spiritual
vigor, now may be our first opportunity to share it. For others
of us, this is an inaugural opportunity to gain clarity in our
personal vision and revive forgotten values.
CO N N ECT
By sharing who we are we not only grow to
understand ourselves, but each other. We will learn from one
another and connect with one another. We will grow closer
as a congregation. Stronger. We will create a new spiritual
bond and a better appreciation for our community.
B E CO U NTED
Only through all of our participation,
across all generations, will this program be successful. As
Abraham said “Hineni!” Here I am! Each of us has that
opportunity to announce to all of us, “Hineni!”
When I say I am Jewish it
means to me that I have
people taking care of me.
It means family.
– Spencer Newman,
10 years old
A Legacy of Life
To me, being Jewish
means having help in
answering life’s most
fundamental questions.
How did I come to this
place? And, now that I am
here, how should I live?
– Joe Lieberman,
U.S. Senator
Remember the guy who
smashed all the idols in
the idol store? His mother
had a heart attack when
she saw the mess, but I’m
sure she bragged about it
later. That’s us. That’s me.
I am Jewish.
– Sarah Silverman, comic
Many of us are familiar with the story of Daniel Pearl,
having heard accounts on the evening news or read it in the
newspaper. Daniel Pearl was a journalist; he graduated from
Stanford University and joined the Wall Street Journal staff
in 1990. Over the next decade, he would see the world,
beginning with the Journal’s bureau in Atlanta, Georgia, and
then Washington, London, England, and Paris, France. In
France he met his wife, Marianne.
It was January 2002, just a few months after the September
11th bombings, and the world was still on edge. Marianne
was pregnant with their first child. Daniel Pearl was in
Pakistan working on a story about the Islamic militant
underground when he was kidnapped. His captors,
who called themselves The National Movement for the
Restoration of Pakistani Sovereignty, claimed he was a spy
– a charge Daniel’s colleagues dismissed as ridiculous. Before
he was brutally slain, Daniel was filmed speaking his final
words. Daniel Pearl was not a religious Jew, but he said,
“My Mother is Jewish, my father is Jewish, I am Jewish”
His executioners welcomed these words as a confession
but Jews all over the world were united in horror over the
terrorist’s actions and inspired by Daniel’s strength. To Daniel
Pearl, “I am Jewish” was more than just an affirmation of a
simple fact. To Daniel Pearl, “I am Jewish” meant, “My life has
meaning, and nothing you do will strip that away from me.
Even if my life ends now, I have served a purpose.”
Daniel Pearl did not hide from who he was. In this most
dire of circumstances, he embraced it.
I feel like a man who
donned biblical sandals
and is moving forward
with a people inspired
The Temple Beth-El
Initiative
Daniel Pearl’s death was a beginning. A collection of essays
titled “I am Jewish” was published, edited by Daniel’s
parents, Judea and Ruth Pearl. The Daniel Pearl Foundation
(www.danielpearl.org) was soon created. Jews everywhere
heard these final words and embraced them and determined
to give them a greater and personalized meaning.
Over the course of this year, Temple Beth-El will also
celebrate these words. We are initiating a full slate of
activities spreading across every facet of our congregation
in search of their meaning. At Shul, we will define this
statement together. In our homes we will define it for
ourselves. Both our Men’s and Women’s Clubs will host
special events. “I am Jewish” will be the theme of our family
retreat, and of our Confirmation Class. Our seniors in
L’Chaim, our teenage and children groups, our schools and
our study groups will all create and participate in unique
programs. From sermons to special speakers, from musical
programming to our Scholar in Residence program, “I am
Jewish” will be discussed, personalized and internalized.
by its faith, part of a
process of renewal and
revival, walking on
without fear. A people
that fights without
despairing, remember
and advancing at one
and the same time.
– Shimon Peres, former
Israeli Prime-Minister
To me, “I’m Jewish”
means having fun being
a Jew. It’s a miracle to be
Jewish. Just like the Red
Sea parting and the oil
lasting for eight days.
– Jade Ransohoff, 7 years old
I am a Jew who believes
that, though small in
numbers, we have a
powerful moral influence
on the world, and in the
words of Hillel, “If not
now, when?”
– Vidal Sassoon, Hair stylist
Together, United
The highlight of our initiative will be a book of collected
essays written by our congregants. We’re asking all of
our members to sit down and write your own personal
testimonial, to share what “I am Jewish” means to you.
Consider what it means to be Jewish. Consider the impact
that being Jewish has on your life – as well as the impact
it should have. Whether you’re age 7 or 70, whether your
contribution is one sentence or 10 pages, this will be your
chance to share your identity and discover the things that
are most important to your life.
Say that it’s a mystery.
Say that it’s a metaphor,
whatever, but I believe
that the Jews are chosen
to illuminate the human
condition, good and bad;
that means we can see
in the Jews the state of
man, his condition, his
aspiration, his folly.
– Richard Dreyfuss, Actor
We will also be putting together a video presentation,
capturing the essence of our testimonials in an engaging
and moving tribute to our Jewish identities. We will ask you
to join us at the Shul to speak on camera and personally
express your interpretation of “I am Jewish.”
Our initiative will culminate on Friday, May 19th.
That night we will unveil our book, premiere our video
presentation, and share our stories with each other. We will
also be honored to have Dr. Judea Pearl as our personal
guest and speaker. He will share his intimate feelings of
what “I am Jewish” means to him, his family, and the Jewish
community.
I share in and benefit
from a deep and brilliant
“I am Jewish”
“I am Jewish” means being part of something bigger.
It means reconnecting with each other. That is our path.
That is our heritage. “I am Jewish” means you are not alone.
It means we’re all part of the same community. It means we
have responsibility to each other.
stream of culture and
intellectual activity that
has flowed for thousands
of years and is flowing
strongly still.
– Milton Friedman,
Economist
To be a Jew is to watch
Look for announcements in The Bulletin, in e-mails and
at the synagogue for opportunities to get involved, plus
programs and events. Only by all of us contributing, can we
discover ourselves anew and grow as a more enlightened,
and more unified congregation.
with good humor how
this planet has treated
its Jews, and to remain
humorous.
– Jackie Mason, Comic
Temple Beth-El
3610 Dundee Road
Northbrook, IL 60062
847-205-9982
Temple Beth-El and the ‘I am Jewish’ Committee wish to recognize the following people and
organizations and offer our sincere “thanks” for their contributions to the creation of this
brochure: Lauren Woodrow (Graphic Design/Art Direction) and Allan Woodrow (Copywriter)
of POWERWORKS Studio (www.powerworksstudio.com) and Ervin Aquino (Photographer) of
Photographic View (www.photographicview.com). You have captured the essence of our initiative.
We are grateful to have ‘friends’ of the Shul like you.